Author: Toganian Liana

Akp Deputy Comez Says Armenia Should Give Up Its Allegations

Turkish Press
June 13 2005

YEREVAN (AA) – Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy from
Balikesir Dr. Turhan Comez said that new initiative should be launched
in regard to so-called Armenian genocide, adding that Armenia should
give up its genocide allegations.

Comez, continuing his tour of Yerevan, had a meeting with Armenian
deputy Hacat Sukyasyan.

Comez and Sukyasyan exchanged views on development of relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

“There had been sufferings in 1915. Many Ottomans lost their
lives… Armenian people also died. The two countries should carry
out a joint study. When I deliver a speech at the Turkish Parliament
for opening of Armenian border gate, at the same time you can deliver
a speech at your parliament saying that incidents happened in 1915
were not genocide; that historians should study these issues and that
Armenia should respect the territorial integrity of Turkey. Maybe,
it is a small step, but it will be an important beginning,” Comez
told Sukyasyan.

Sukyasyan noted that the two countries should leave aside problems
between them, stating that border gate should be opened by Turkey
and Armenia.

Stressing that after border gate was opened, the two countries would
further improve, Sukyasyan added that Turkey and Armenia should
further develop the region together.

Press Release
Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, Ste 803
New York, NY 10016
Contact: Irina Lazarian
Phone: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIA FUND USA AND MEDICAL MISSIONS FOR CHILDREN EXPAND HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS FOR ARMENIAN CHILDREN

Partnership Will Bring Medical Education and Specialized Health Services
to Nagorno-Karabakh

Paterson, New Jersey, May 31, 2005 – Medical Missions for Children, a
non-profit organization dedicated to elevating the quality of care for
seriously ill children in underserved communities around the world,
today announced that it is partnering with Armenia Fund USA to address
the medical needs of Armenia’s sickest children and adults. With the
additional participation of the Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Ministries
of Health, the Armenia Society of Pediatrics and the Armenia Institute
of Pediatric and Adolescent Health, Medical Missions for Children is
laying the groundwork for the expansion of its Global Telemedicine &
Teaching NetworkT into this region of the Newly Independent States
(NIS).

In conjunction with Armenia Fund USA’s newly-developed Armine Pagoumian
Polyclinic in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Medical Missions for
Children will implement a medical education program focused around the
topics of pediatric cardiology, otolaryngology (ENT), oncology and
orthopedics. Additionally, Medical Missions for Children will introduce
remote diagnostics capabilities that will allow physicians in the U.S.
to participate in the examination and diagnosis of pediatric illnesses
related to the upper and lower respiratory system, ear, nose, throat and
eye infections.

“Our expectation is that through Medical Missions for Children’s
telemedicine and satellite technologies, we will create a gateway from
Armenia to the 30 medical institutions that make up the mentoring
component of our Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network,” said John
Riehl, executive vice president, Medical Missions for Children. “It is
this same strategy that proved to be very successful for Medical
Missions for Children five years ago when it first established itself as
a vital medical resource to physicians and children living in Latin
America.”

Armenia Fund USA is spearheading the development of a new healthcare
clinic, the Stepanakert Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center, located in the
region’s capital. The existing healthcare facility in Stepanakert was
partially destroyed in the war. The new polyclinic will be the first
and only full care medical center in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The facility is expected to be operational before the end of summer
2005. Besides fully equipping the clinic, Armenia Fund USA, under the
direction of Dr. Alina Dorian, has been implementing an extensive
training program for the past 18 months. This training includes all of
the clinic’s staff, utilizing specialized training materials and staff
from both the John Hopkins and UCLA facilities in the United States.

“The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network facility, introduced by
Medical Missions for Children to the Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic in
Stepanakert, will greatly enhance the levels of service and
technological sophistication the polyclinic will be able to provide to
residents of Karabakh,” said Kevork Toroyan, chairman of Armenia Fund
USA.

“We are excited to enhance and expand the medical services Armenia Fund
USA is able to provide critically ill children in Armenia,” said Frank
Brady, founder and chairman of the board, Medical Missions for Children.
“Our relationship will help children who might not otherwise receive the
treatment they desperately need. At the same time, we will provide
access to additional medical education programming that is designed to
enhance learning. This is a unique opportunity to partner with Armenia
Fund USA and we are grateful for the support the group is providing.”

Medical Missions for Children and its Global Telemedicine & Teaching
NetworkT helps critically ill children in underserved communities around
the world. Through an extensive videoconferencing network, Medical
Missions for Children supports the real-time treatment of remote,
critically ill children. In addition utilizing its fully FCC licensed
broadcast station, WMMC, and expansive digital video library, transmits
worldwide an on-going program of continuing medical education to
physicians, nurses, medical students and hospital administrators.

The organization’s global network encompasses pediatric healthcare
facilities in 36 medically underserved countries and the volunteer
services of 26 tier-one U.S.-based and four international medical
institutions. Since the organization was founded, more than 23,500
children have been helped. Medical Missions for Children continues to
work toward its goal of touching the lives of over one million children
each year.

About Medical Missions for Children

Medical Missions for Children (MMC) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to elevating the care of catastrophically ill children in
underserved U.S. and international communities. MMC created and manages
its programs through the organization’s Global Telemedicine and Teaching
NetworkT (GTTN) – an interactive, satellite and Internet-based
communications platform. The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network
supports the real-time treatment of remote, critically ill children, and
through a fully FCC licensed broadcast station, WMMC, broadcasts
worldwide an extensive program of continuing medical education. Medical
Missions for Children is headquartered at St. Joseph’s Children’s
Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Visit for additional
information.

About Armenia Fund USA

Armenia Fund USA is dedicated to supporting large-scale, self-sustaining
initiatives in both Armenia and Karabakh, republics in social and
political transition with tremendous potential for the future. The Fund
is primarily focused on building sustainable infrastructure for the
region through the development of roads, schools, medical facilities and
utilities. Additionally, the Fund invests in humanitarian programs in
education, training and healthcare. For more information, please visit

IF ARMENIA NOT TO REACH DEMOCRATIC BREAK WITHIN 6 MONTHS,
KARABAKH ISSUE TO BE SOLVED INSTEAD OF IT: ARAM SARGSSYAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. The European Union will draw much more
attention to Armenia within the “Widened Europe: New Neighbors”
Program framework, whereas President is not ready for even little
changes, Leader of Armenia’s Democratic party (DPA) Aram G. Sargssyan
stated journalists today.

In his opinion, world powers have not elaborated the united approach
to Karabakh issue yet, however, strict directives of the EU should be
expected in 6 months.

To remind, Sargssyan returned from Netherlands where Armenian, Azeri
and Turkish parliamentarians and diplomats, with the participation of
the EU experts, discussed problems of trilateral relations. A worker
of Turkish embassy stated at the meeting: “We cannot establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia as a part of Turkey is mentioned in
Armenia’s Constitution as the Western Armenia”. “Our state is so weak
that they try to bereave even our historical memory”, Sargssyan
resumed.

ARMINFO once again reminds, in particular, “workers of Turkish
embassy” and Aram (Gaspar) Sargssyan that neither “west” nor “Turkey”
have been mentioned in Armenia’s Constitution. Skeptics may be
acquainted with the official translation of Armenia’s Constitution by
-r-

The Messenger, Georgia
June 10 2005

Economic Analysis – Russian economic levers: a serious threat?
Russian paper says Russia does in fact need Georgia economically
By M. Alkhazashvili

Georgian-Russian relations have long been defined by one unspoken
law: economic trade with Russia is directly related to playing
Moscow’s political games. However, recently a Russian newspaper,
Moskovskaya Pravda, took a hard look at the reality of economic
sanctions and they came to a startling conclusion: good relations
might be just as crucial for Moscow as they are for Tbilisi.

Russia is an economic heavy weight among former Soviet republics;
even the Baltic countries – despite membership in EU and NATO – can
be influenced if Moscow tightens the screws. But countries like
Georgia in an even more fragile position.

In the first three weeks of 2005 alone, Russia imported an estimated
USD 27 million in products from Georgia, over half of which were food
products such as wine and citrus fruit. However, Georgia’s food
imports to Russia make up less than 1 percent of their over all food
imports. During the same time period, Georgia received an estimated
USD 78 million worth of imports from Russia, including a crucial
wheat shipments.

In addition to other imports, Georgia has historically been overly
dependent on Russia for energy. Not long ago, Russian Vladimir Putin
threatened to charge Georgia market prices for Russian energy
supplies; currently Georgia receives Russian natural gas at prices
2.5 times lower than European countries, albeit considerably higher
than other CIS countries.

However, although oil and natural gas imports from Russia are vital
for Georgia now, that is quickly changing. Currently, Georgia
receives a mere 20 percent of its oil supply from Russia, and now
that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is up and running Tbilisi will
be able to receive Caspian oil for cheaper prices than Russia can
offer. There are also plans for new natural gas pipelines in the
Caucasus which will further help Georgia free itself from Russian
energy reserves.

Moscow has also realized the days of using energy embargos to
influence Georgia are numbered; Moskovskaya Pravda noted that if
Russia turns off the taps they will be adversely affecting their
allies as well. “But if we adopt full-scale economic sanctions
against Georgia, it will cause energetic problems for Armenia, as
energy supplies are transited there via Georgia,” the newspaper
noted.

It also added that since negotiations regarding the transfer of
Russian military out of Georgia are still fragile, any sudden
overtures from Moscow could risk the chances of getting equipment to
Armenia.

While the threat still exists, Moscow would be wise to refrain from
implementing any radical, large scale economic embargo against
Georgia in reaction to Tbilisi’s new, western political orientation.
It is true that for now Russia can still wreak havoc on the country
if it turns off the oil and gas supply or its citrus and wine
imports; however that will not be true for long. What will always
remain is Georgia’s strategic location.

Not only will any actions against Tbilisi inadvertently adversely
affect Yerevan, but by risking good relations with Georgia to achieve
short term political goals, Moscow jeopardizes the long term benefits
of having a strong ally in the Black Sea region and the strategically
viable South Caucasus.

ZAMANONLINE
ERHAN BASYURT
06.09.2005 Thursday – ISTANBUL 05:20

Kocharian Conceals Occupation with So-Called Genocide
I don’t know why, opening the Armenian border gate has become a “blind love”
in Turkey. Lastly, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has fell
in this “blind love”. While no conditions have been changed on the Armenian
side, Ankara has carried on building diplomatic relations and opening the
border gate to the issue.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian; however, showed once again that they do
not seek dialogue or a solution at the Summit of the Council of Europe in
Warsaw.
Kocharian repeated to the top-level representatives of 46 European countries
that “recognition of 1915 events as genocide is our main policy.” While it
was highly expected that Prime Minister Erdogan and Kocharian would come
together at that summit, Kocharian’s statements had a cold effect on the
Turkish side.
Kocharian has become Armenian President thanks to the effective “Karabagh
Clan” when he was one of the Armenian rebel leaders carrying out an armed
conflict in Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabagh region. Kocharian’s biggest
supporter is the Dashnak Party, which has destroyed the democratic structure
in the country. What brought Kocharian up to power is not the Armenian
people’s support but financial and political support provided by the
Armenian Diaspora, who seek the dream of “Greater Armenia”. If Kocharian
gives up his so-called genocide allegations, he will lose the Armenian
Diaspora’s support that has been constructed on “Turcophobic Animosity”.
Under these circumstances, it would be naive to expect Kocharian to give up
his so-called genocide allegations and to withdraw from 20 percent of
Azerbaijani territory.
Certainly, this is not the only reason for Kocharian’s insistence on a
so-called genocide. If it is noticed, campaigns of so-called genocide have
accelerated after 1990. The end of the Cold War has facilitated the
international pressure over Turkey and this has played a crucial role in it.
The main reason; however, is that the so-called genocide barking conceals
Armenian’s occupation and massacre in Azerbaijan. Adapting the role of the
oppressed and the aggrieved, Armenians, who constantly carry the so-called
genocide allegations on the agenda at European and US parliaments, conceal
the Karabagh massacres and the occupation of Azerbaijan in this way. They
describe the immigration of 413,000 Armenians from the Ottoman territories
as “genocide”; however, show their exile of 800,000 Azerbaijanis from their
homelands and committing ethnic cleansing, primarily in Hocali, as just.
Kocharian’s speech at the Council of Europe is very thought provoking from
this point of view as well. The Council of Europe’s Assembly of
Parliamentarians has accepted Armenia as a country occupying Azerbaijani
territory on January 25th 2005, that is to say four months ago. It also
accepted a comprehensive report envisioning a peaceful withdrawal from it.
Kocharian, who is the architect of the occupation that blocked four
different resolutions by the United Nations (UN) and solutions projects by
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE), now plays
the role of the “oppressed” by carrying the so-called genocide allegations
on agenda at the Council of Europe. He, therefore, keeps the international
community and the Council of Europe from undertaking an active role in the
solution of the problem.
Turkey should speak with Kocharian in the language that he understands at
this stage. That is to say, it should push Armenia into corner at
international platforms and take initiatives to allow it to end the
occupation and to establish peaceful relations with its neighbors. The
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) might easily carry the Karabagh
problem to the agenda. Turkey should use all its opportunities in the
Council of Europe, the OSCE, the UN and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO). It is naturally not possible that these policies can be
successful only with Turkey’s efforts. Turkey and Azerbaijan should set up a
very close dialogue and co-operation mechanism at this stage. They should
direct their lobby opportunities to the same point. Armenia should be put
under international pressure by gaining the support of friendly countries as
well.
If these are achieved, not only the so-called genocide allegations will
occupy the agenda as such, but also Armenia will seek ways to approach
Turkey as a solution to get rid of international pressure. Turkey-Armenia
relations will mostly benefit Armenia, so the “blind love” of opening the
border gates and establishing bridges should be theirs.

La Croix , France
6 juin 2005

UNE IDÉE POUR AGIR. FRANCE ARMENIE. Un “pont” médical entre Marseille
et l’Arménie.

PEIRON Denis

Avec un habitant sur dix originaire d’Arménie, Marseille suit de près
la vie du “Pays des pierres”, cet avant-poste chrétien dans le
Caucase. C’est ainsi

qu’est née dans la cité phocéenne,

début 1989, l’association

Altitude 5165, nommée en référence au mont Ararat, le symbole
national, situé désormais en territoire turc. À l’origine, il
s’agissait de secourir, en leur adressant vivres et médicaments, les
victimes du tremblement de terre qui venait de se produire quelques
semaines plus tôt.

Les années ont passé, mais la précarité demeure. “Le système de soins
hérité de la période soviétique s’est effondré. Sans parler du blocus
maintenu par la Turquie, ni du conflit avec l’Azerbaïdjan, à propos
de l’enclave du Haut-Karabakh. En 1994, un cessez-le-feu a été
conclu, mais les incidents à la frontière sont quasi quotidiens”,
note Robert Azilazian, le président d’Altitude 5165. Aussi son
association a-t-elle créé à Erevan une pharmacie centrale qui
distribue aux plus démunis les médicaments collectés et triés à
Marseille par la quarantaine de bénévoles de l’association. En 2003,
elle a aussi mis en place, à Gumri, deuxième ville du pays, un
dispensaire dentaire où plus de 10 000 personnes ont été soignées, et
s’apprête à ouvrir une structure similaire à Etchmiadzin, non loin de
la capitale. “Certaines personnes n’ont pas vu de dentiste depuis
vingt ans… En gros, les gens ne se soignent pas. Et quand on visite
les hôpitaux, on comprend pourquoi: les installations sont souvent
rudimentaires, les tarifs exorbitants…” Il y a peu, pour passer un
scanner, les habitants de Gumri devaient ainsi parcourir une bonne
centaine de kilomètres jusqu’à Erevan et, une fois sur place,
s’acquitter d’environ 150 Euro. Pas donné à tous, lorsqu’on sait que
le salaire mensuel moyen avoisine les 20 Euro. Désormais, ils peuvent
rester dans leur ville et bénéficier gratuitement de cet examen. Avec
l’aide du conseil général des Bouches-du-Rhône, qui chaque année lui
attribue près de 200 000 Euro de subventions, l’association Altitude
5165 a acheté d’occasion un scanner qu’elle a fait entièrement
réviser, puis offert tout récemment à l’hôpital de la ville.
“L’objectif, désormais, c’est de pérenniser les structures
existantes, tout en passant progressivement le relais financier aux
Arméniens”, explique Robert Azilazian. Ce praticien dentaire
s’apprête à se rendre une nouvelle fois sur place pour aider à btir
un système de santé mutualiste.

DENIS PEIRON (à Marseille)

A1plus

| 15:37:13 | 06-06-2005 | Social |

ARMENIAN PILOTS FORGIVEN

On Sunday the President of the Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema
granted freedom to the 6 Armenian pilots who were imprisoned for a long time
with the accusation of participating in an attempt of political revolution
in the African country.

According to the Radio station `Azatutyun’ the forgiveness was granted as a
humanitarian act in connection with the 63rd anniversary of the President
Nguema which is celebrated in Equatorial Guinea as a national holiday.

According to the Presidential decree, the 6 Armenian pilots must be
immediately released and `be given to the authorities who will take care of
them to be transported to Armenia’.

The Armenian pilots were arrested last year in March and in November they
were sentenced to 14-24 years of imprisonment, being accused of
participating in an attempt of coup d’etat against the Equatorial Guinea
President.

The Armenian pilots who had arrived in an Armenian plane in Equatorial
Guinea in 2004 January, had managed to carry out only one flight to the
Congo Democratic Republic before being arrested.

For setting the Armenian pilots free the Armenian authorities and President
of the World Armenian congress and Union of Armenians in Russia Ara
Abrahamyan made all efforts.

ARMENIAN PILOTS IMPRISONED IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA GRANTED AN AMNESTY

MALABO, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. The five Armenian pilots imprisoned in
Equatorial Guinea have been granted an amnesty and will return home
within the nearest future. President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro
Obiang Nguema Mbasogo signed the decree on their amnesty and immediate
release in connection with his 63rd anniversary.

It should be noted that the Armenian pilots worked in that country on
a registered plane AH-12. They were arrested in Malabo March 7 2004
being charged with am attempted state coup and espionage. The pilots
were sentenced to 7-14 years of imprisonment. Besides the Armenian
authorities, Head of the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan has
held active negotiations for their release.

The outsiders
By Diplomatic Editor, Trevor Royle

Sunday Herald, UK
June 5 2005

When French “Non” voters claimed that they had rejected the
EU constitution because they did not want any more cheap Polish
plumbers or were alarmed about an influx of Turkish immigrants, they
were striking right at the heart of Europe’s current problems. The
EU’s motto might be “united in diversity”, but first the French and
then the Dutch gave notice that they want nothing to do with further
enlargement and believe that Europe’s borders are quite large enough
for the time being.

On the matter of Polish workers, they had probably succumbed to one
urban myth too many about industrious young plumbers exchanging Warsaw
for Versailles and creaming off the best jobs. Poland is half the
size of France and, as the EU’s social affairs commissioner put it,
even if every plumber in Poland emigrated to France, they would still
be outnumbered.

More worrying is the antagonism aroused by the issue of Turkey’s
membership. This is a country which is due to begin talks with the
EU this autumn, with a view to becoming a full member in 2015. But
it is also a country which former French president Valery Giscard
d’Estaing has described as having “a different culture, a different
approach, a different way of life”. Its people also seemed to him
to be alien when compared to the rest of Europe: not only were their
“values incompatible with Europe’s”, they were mainly Islamic.

For many Western Europeans this might be a step too far. Although
Turkey would help to supply the young immigrant workers needed
by western Europe to fill menial jobs and to bolster its ageing
population, there are too many imponderables in considering Turkey
as a full member in the next round of enlargement.

First, there is the religious issue and it is instructive to consider
that Ukraine’s application will be considered at the same time. Not
only is Ukraine Christian, it is demonstrably in Europe and would
logically extend the EU’s boundaries eastwards, whereas Turkey drags
them to the south and towards the Middle East. Second, there is the
question of Turkish troops in Cyprus: these would have to be removed
as they breach the EU’s concept of sovereignty. Finally, there is
growing clamour for Turkey to apologise for the infamous Armenian
massacres at the end of the first world war, just as Germany had to
acknowledge its role in instigating the Holocaust by apologising to
the Jewish people and paying them reparations.

While that latter condition might seem a touch existential, it
sums up the sense of otherness which many EU members hold about the
next stage of enlargement. Similar fears have been expressed about
Bulgaria and Romania, both of which have applied for membership of
the club, but these are occasioned more by financial than by cultural
or religious reasons. Just as last year’s enlargement meant that the
richer countries had to foot the bill for the economic development
of the 10 new members, so too do many fear that another enlargement
might cripple the EU budget. With the euro in decline and with the
economies of France, Germany and Italy faltering, those who voted
No last week were also taking their purses into account. If further
expansion means more expenditure and higher taxation, why vote for
a measure which will hit their pockets?

There are, in fact, solid reasons for this seemingly relentless
broadening of the EU’s interests. It satisfies the belief that in order
to grow in strength the organisation has to expand. It conforms to the
EU’s current security strategy by insisting that the new members are
more likely to pay attention to the union’s founding principles and
in so doing will make Europe a more stable place. It allows the EU to
counter US world hegemony, although this point exists in theory only,
and it provides a sense of continuity. Those committed to the EU also
enjoy pointing out that each earlier enlargement only strengthened it,
the accession of Britain in 1973 being a case in point.

As things stand, the EU is set to open negotiations with Ankara later
this year and the Turkish government insists that it is pushing ahead
with the internal reforms required to meet EU criteria. Part of their
diplomatic offensive is based on the fact that vital pipelines from
Iraq and the Caucasus run over their territory, and that EU membership
will bring stability to the Black Sea whose coastal littorals are
also shared by Bulgaria and Romania, the other EU applicants. As
Turkey also controls the Bosporus, the strategic gateway for the
Caucasus, the argument for EU enlargement into the region seems to
be entirely logical.

However, strategic considerations probably cut little ice with last
week’s No voters. Their beef was much simpler: they had lost faith
in the system and were given the opportunity of recording their
opposition.

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SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN AROUSES CONCERN OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Pan Armenian News
03.06.2005 04:13

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Freedom House today expressed serious concern over
the government of Azerbaijan’s increasing abuse and intimidation of
opposition activists. Azeri authorities arrested and detained more than
30 activists on May 18 and 19, part of a broader pattern of repressive
measures that effectively deny any non-governmental actor a meaningful
voice in Azeri society. Independent media, the non-governmental sector
and opposition political parties all face serious obstacles created
by the authorities. The detention of the activists comes in advance
of a scheduled public rally planned by the UGUR opposition bloc
for May 21. Freedom House called on the government of Azerbaijan to
immediately release the detained individuals and to respect the right
to freedom of assembly. “It is time for the Azerbaijani government to
demonstrate its commitment to democratic reform with genuine action”
said Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor. “Actions
speak louder than words. Unfortunately, there is a wide gap between
the regime’s pledges to implement democratic reforms and its following
through on these commitments.”